“Nay, ’t is no trouble,” the officer
assured her, setting one foot over the sill.
“And, besides, I have word of your father to
tell ye.”

Reluctantly the maiden gave him passage, and pointed
out a place of deposit in the entry for his burden.
Then she fell back to the staircase, and went up a
few steps. Yet she eagerly questioned: “What
of my father?”

Clowes came to the foot of the ascent. “He
is on one of the transports in the lower Delaware,
and as soon as we can reduce the rebel works, and
break through their cursed chevaux-de-frise, he will
come up to Philadelphia.”

“Oh,” almost carolled Janice, “what
joyous news!”

“And does the bringer deserve no reward?”

“For that, and for the food, I thank you deeply,
Lord
Clowes,” said the girl, warmly.

“I’m not the man to take my pay in mere
lip music,” answered the commissary. “Harkee,
Miss Meredith, there is a limit to my forbearance
of thy skittishness. Thou wast ready enough to
wed me once, and I have never released thee from the
bargain. Henceforth I expect a lover’s privileges
until they can be made those of a husband.”
Clowes took two steps, upward.

“I think, Lord Clowes, that ’t is hardly
kind of you to remind me of my shame,” replied
Janice, with a gentle dignity very close to tears.
“Deceitful I was and disobedient, and no one
can blame me more than I have come to blame myself.
But you are not the one to speak of it nor to pretend
that my giddy conduct was any pledge.”

“Then am I to understand that I was lover enough
when thy needs required it, but that now I am to be
jilted?” demanded the man, harshly.

“Your version is a cruel one that I am sure
you cannot think just.”

“Ye hold to it that ye are not bound to me?”

“Yes.”

The commissary fell back to where he had set the baskets.
“In your necessity ye felt otherwise, and I advise
ye to remember that ye still require my aid.
I am not one of those who lavish favours and expect
no return, though a good friend to those who make
it worth my while. If I am to have naught from
ye, ye shall have naught from me.” He picked
up the baskets. “Here is milk, bread, meat,
jellies, and wines, to be had for a price, and only
for a price.”

“Oh, prithee, Lord Clowes,” begged Janice,
despairingly, “you cannot seek to advantage
yourself of my desperate plight. All I had to
give my mother this morning was some water gruel,
and I have not tasted food myself for a twenty-four
hours.”

“Your anxiety for your mother cannot be over
great. I only ask ye to avow that ye consented
to become my wife, and should have done so, had we
been left free.”

The girl wavered; then buried her face in her hands,
and in a scarcely audible voice said: “I
did intend—­for a brief space—­did
think to—­to marry you.”